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1889.] Document No. 20
—
Appendix. IIO-astrous
fire, in the high rate of insurance, caused by the lack of suflS-cient
water. Having entered this wedge, the convenience of a tap in
the kitchen and house, wherefrom water can be drawn at will, the con-venience
and luxury of baths, and the great cleanliness and niceness of
water-closets, a/e argued, until the plain, old-fashioned folks, to whom
all such things are novelties, are found to fall in with the suggestion,
which, if traced to its origin, came from the numerous speculators who
are engaged in the manufacture of material used in the construction of
such works, generally known as •' Pipe Trusts."
The original idea of having a public water-supply, which has by this
time taken full possession of a steady-going, old-fashioned town, has
been tuined into the best use that the various contractors can make of
it, and the innocent public stand off to see a warm encounter between
committees of Aldermen and rival supply companies, resulting finally
in the victory of the sharpest contractor; and then what? Why, the
source of water-sujjply is to be decided by a partisan encounter, regard-less
of scientific investigation, or experience as to quality and quantity,
and, it may be, the final selection of a water so doubtful that nothing
better can be devised for it than to filter it.
It is not worth while to multiplj^ the dangers which beset us—enough
of them are actually upon us to test the manner and sjMrit in which other
questions will be met. So far, we are deliberately repeating the early
errors of the past century, which can only be accounted for by the infer-ence
that our peojile are not informed. *
Just let us see how we are going to fare in the next ten years. All
these towns, getting a supply of water, will have, after disastrous losses
of life and health, a system of sewage. Then will come into our towns
swarms of tramij plumbers, who are driven out of the cities where Ucense
laws are in vogue, and the work done in our houses will be shabby, ex-pensive,
and exasperating. After suffering innumerable ills, patiently,
as our Southern people have by long hardships learned to endure, the
public will wake up to the facts in the case. This is no sensational pic-ture,
and, indeed, is but half drawn.
Is it not clear, then, that the whole population is interested in the
future of sanitary work in our State ? It is not the physicians alone
who are to inform themselves and take active measures for the mitiga-tion
of disease, the prolongation of life, and the comforts of our sur-roundings,
but every man, woman and child has some interest at stake.
It must be almost of necessity that the doctors will take the lead in
public and private sanitary matters, because, by their education, they are
generally better fitted to advise, but it is just as great folly to leave it
all for them to do as it would be for an intelligent community to entrust
its religious duties to their pastors, ministers, or priests. It is a common
cause, and involves principles of self-protection—so much so that when

1889.] Document No. 20
—
Appendix. IIO-astrous
fire, in the high rate of insurance, caused by the lack of suflS-cient
water. Having entered this wedge, the convenience of a tap in
the kitchen and house, wherefrom water can be drawn at will, the con-venience
and luxury of baths, and the great cleanliness and niceness of
water-closets, a/e argued, until the plain, old-fashioned folks, to whom
all such things are novelties, are found to fall in with the suggestion,
which, if traced to its origin, came from the numerous speculators who
are engaged in the manufacture of material used in the construction of
such works, generally known as •' Pipe Trusts."
The original idea of having a public water-supply, which has by this
time taken full possession of a steady-going, old-fashioned town, has
been tuined into the best use that the various contractors can make of
it, and the innocent public stand off to see a warm encounter between
committees of Aldermen and rival supply companies, resulting finally
in the victory of the sharpest contractor; and then what? Why, the
source of water-sujjply is to be decided by a partisan encounter, regard-less
of scientific investigation, or experience as to quality and quantity,
and, it may be, the final selection of a water so doubtful that nothing
better can be devised for it than to filter it.
It is not worth while to multiplj^ the dangers which beset us—enough
of them are actually upon us to test the manner and sjMrit in which other
questions will be met. So far, we are deliberately repeating the early
errors of the past century, which can only be accounted for by the infer-ence
that our peojile are not informed. *
Just let us see how we are going to fare in the next ten years. All
these towns, getting a supply of water, will have, after disastrous losses
of life and health, a system of sewage. Then will come into our towns
swarms of tramij plumbers, who are driven out of the cities where Ucense
laws are in vogue, and the work done in our houses will be shabby, ex-pensive,
and exasperating. After suffering innumerable ills, patiently,
as our Southern people have by long hardships learned to endure, the
public will wake up to the facts in the case. This is no sensational pic-ture,
and, indeed, is but half drawn.
Is it not clear, then, that the whole population is interested in the
future of sanitary work in our State ? It is not the physicians alone
who are to inform themselves and take active measures for the mitiga-tion
of disease, the prolongation of life, and the comforts of our sur-roundings,
but every man, woman and child has some interest at stake.
It must be almost of necessity that the doctors will take the lead in
public and private sanitary matters, because, by their education, they are
generally better fitted to advise, but it is just as great folly to leave it
all for them to do as it would be for an intelligent community to entrust
its religious duties to their pastors, ministers, or priests. It is a common
cause, and involves principles of self-protection—so much so that when